CVG board big givers to Arlinghaus campaign

Support judge-executive who appointed them

Dec. 10, 2013

Airport Board Chairman Jim Huff, right, with his wife, Bert, said board members are 'prominent people and get involved in a lot of different things,' only one of which is the Steve Arlinghaus campaign. / Enquirer file

Written by

As Kenton County Judge-executive Steve Arlinghaus faces a tough re-election challenge from within his own party, members of the Kenton County Airport Board and their spouses have opened their wallets to help the first-term Republican keep his job.

An Enquirer analysis of campaign finance records shows that board members, the airport’s attorney, and their spouses have given Arlinghaus $17,500 in the past six months – about 15 percent of the $116,000 he has raised so far this year.

As the top elected official in Kenton County, Arlinghaus wields tremendous influence over the airport board: He appoints all seven executive committee members and six of the 11 advisory members. It’s one of the most coveted political appointments in the region because the board oversees the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, and members – or those aspiring to become members – have always donated to judge-executive candidates.

Since taking office in January 2011, Arlinghaus has frequently said he wants to keep politics out of the airport board. Of the 10 current board members he’s appointed or reappointed, though, nine of them or their spouses have contributed to his re-election. Many also support candidates in a wide range of races.

“It isn’t just this race: Historically, the members of the airport board have been major donors to all the campaigns for judge-executive,” Arlinghaus said. “I can’t say why people have donated in the past – a lot of times, it probably was about politics. In my case, I believe that people are contributing to my campaign because of the positive things that I have accomplished during my time in office.”

They include eliminating a $2.5 million deficit in the county’s operating budget and reducing spending on overtime at the county jail.

(Page 2 of 5)

Under Arlinghaus, however, the airport board has also been more dysfunctional than any in recent memory. The board has come under fire after recent Enquirer reports on infighting among its members, attempts to oust the airport’s chief executive, Candace McGraw, spending on travel to aviation conferences around the globe and spending on food and drinks after board gatherings, some of which appear to violate the state’s open meeting law.

Arlinghaus’ opponent in the May primary, County Commissioner Kris Knochelmann, has called for an investigation into the board and for changes in how members are appointed. No airport board members have donated to his campaign. He did not return messages seeking comment.

Voting members, attorney, spouses give campaign $11K

As a group, airport board members, the airport attorney and their spouses are the single-largest contributing group to Arlinghaus’ campaign. Of the seven voting members of the airport board’s executive committee, five cut checks to Arlinghaus this year, campaign finance records show.

Board chairman Jim Huff and his wife, former board chairwoman Bert Huff, each gave $1,000 in addition to hosting a fundraiser for Arlinghaus at their Fort Mitchell home.

“I think all the board members are just prominent people and get involved in a lot of different things, not just the airport board,” Huff said. “I don’t know that there’s a correlation between that and the airport board. I can’t speak for everybody; I just speak for myself. But I support most everybody, especially the recent people, who have run for judge.”

The Huffs – of Huff Realty – have been active in Kenton County political circles for decades. They’ve hosted fundraisers for Arlinghaus’ predecessor, Ralph Drees, as well as for Scott Kimmich, Arlinghaus’ opponent in the 2010 primary. Huff was appointed to the airport board by Drees and reappointed by Arlinghaus.

Board vice chairman Larry Savage of Alexandria and his wife, Lisa, also gave Arlinghaus $1,000 apiece. Savage is regional CEO of Humana. Arlinghaus appointed him to the executive committee in June; he was previously on the advisory board.

(Page 3 of 5)

Lawyer Mark Arnzen of Fort Wright and his wife, Carolee, donated $1,000 apiece. Retired Morgan Stanley vice president Tim Mauntel of Villa Hills and his wife, Sue, also gave $1,000 apiece. Arlinghaus appointed both men to the executive committee in June 2012.

Lally Pipe & Tube vice president John Mocker of Union also gave $1,000. Arlinghaus appointed him to the executive committee in June; he was previously on the advisory board.

GE Aviation CEO Paul McElhinney of Cincinnati, whom Arlinghaus appointed in January, is the only executive committee member who did not donate to his campaign.

There is a vacancy on the executive committee: FK Holdings CEO Frank Kling of Villa Hills resigned Dec. 1 after seven years on the board. He did not donate to Arlinghaus.

Advisory members, spouses chip in an additional $6,500

Members of the advisory board or their spouses chipped in $6,500, according to campaign finance records.

Advisory members do not cast votes on the board, but they help set airport policy through their work on board committees. Further, a seat on the advisory board can lead to an appointment to the executive committee.

Advisory members Jim Berger of Fort Mitchell, Mer Grayson of Fort Mitchell and Bob Zapp of Union donated $1,000 each. Berger is vice president at Bilz Insurance and Grayson is president of Central Bank; both are Arlinghaus appointees. Zapp is president of the Bank of Kentucky and is Boone County’s appointee to the airport board.

The spouses of two advisory board members also gave $1,000 each: Gordon Air of Villa Hills, husband of University of Cincinnati executive Dorothy Air, and Randall Collins of Villa Hills, husband of Fifth Third executive Kathy Collins. Both women are Arlinghaus appointees.

Two advisory board members donated $500 apiece: Verst Logistics president Paul Verst of Cold Spring, a Campbell County appointee to the board; and Fidelity Investments executive Kevin Canafax of Covington, an Arlinghaus appointee.

(Page 4 of 5)

There is one vacancy on the advisory board. The term of Michels & Sons president Joe Michels of Fort Wright expired Sept. 21, four months after he donated $500 to Arlinghaus.

Three advisory board members did not donate to Arlinghaus: O’dell Owens, president of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, appointed by the city of Cincinnati; Fort Mitchell businessman Nathan Smith, appointed by Gov. Steve Beshear; and former Comair CEO David Siebenburgen, appointed by Hamilton County in October.

After those directly related to the airport board, the Crestview Hills law firm of Dressman Benzinger Lavelle, from which 13 partners gave a total of $10,000, is the second-largest contributor to Arlinghaus’ campaign.

DBL partner Mark Guilfoyle, who gave $1,000, served six years on the airport advisory board as an appointee of the Kentucky governor. Guilfoyle is also representing the Huffs in a federal lawsuit alleging the airport’s administrative assistant illegally recorded and transcribed a call Jim Huff inadvertently made to the airport’s offices in October.

Murgatroyd, Drees family members back Knochelmann

No current airport board members or their spouses have donated to Knochelmann’s campaign, but he has some noteworthy supporters from elsewhere in the community.

The Drees family has donated a combined $850: Drees Homes CEO David Drees of Crescent Springs, land developer Phil Drees of Hebron and Irmaleen Drees of Crescent Springs – the sons and wife of former judge-executive and airport board chairman Ralph Drees, who has been openly critical of Arlinghaus.

A second man who once appointed airport board members is also supporting Knochelmann: Drees’ predecessor, Dick Murgatroyd of Crestview Hills, gave $100.

Insurance executive Beverly Hatfield of Edgewood also donated $500 to Knochelmann. Her husband, Steve, served on the executive committee before Arlinghaus asked him to step down in early 2011 to make way for P&G executive Melanie Healey, who later resigned from the airport board.

(Page 5 of 5)

Arlinghaus has raised $159,000 for his re-election, including funds left over from his 2010 campaign. He holds a considerable advantage over Knochelmann, who raised $22,160 between July 4, when he entered the race, and Sept. 30, when his campaign finance report was filed.

Knochelmann is trying aggressively to raise more, however. On Nov. 30, he sent a strongly worded fundraising appeal aimed at those who have already donated to Arlinghaus.

“I understand the timing of my (candidacy) announcement comes after many had already contributed to my opponent,” Knochelmann wrote. “I want to assure you, I am the only candidate who will bring a brighter future to Kenton County, and I am tough enough to go up against anyone who will hold Kenton County back.”

Two former airport board members hedged their bets and donated to both candidates: MedCare pharmacy owner Jeff Arnold of Crescent Springs, whom Arlinghaus asked to step aside to make way for McElhinney last January; and Florence businessman Dick Crist, former airport board chairman.